Control of workpiece heating

摘要

The present control system and method for a slab heating furnace is operative in relation to a predicted travel time of a theoretical control slab in the charge zone of the furnace and a predicted travel time of a theoretical control slab in the heat zone of the furnace as based upon the cycle time of an associated rolling mill. This operation is in relation to a desired distribution of heat content supplied by the charge zone and heat content supplied by the heat zone, and in consideration of a related temperature profile within each slab, for the determination of a temperature control setpoint for the charge zone and a temperature control setpoint for the heat zone such that a desired total heat content is provided within each slab before it enters the soak zone of the slab heating furnace. There are periodically calculated the updated heat content values for each slab in every operating furnace for this determination of temperature control setpoints, and a correction in temperature setpoint is made when the calculated heat content is different than the desired heat content for the slabs in a controlled heating zone. A slab is not permitted to be discharged from a given furnace until that slab has been properly heated in relation to desired heat content, desired surface temperature and desired time interval in the soak zone.